Laid off after 38 years

[Ckwil1948]

Still looking for work. Everybody wants experience, and what I have is apparently not needed by anybody! It makes me so mad! You need Med-Surg experience even to work the generic places! My experience is in office nursing and long ago in labor and delivery in hospitals. I have no family, and I need a job! I know the economy has done this, but I have motivation and skills,and can't find anything! Just venting!! Thanks to you all, Chris!

[lkwashington]

You may want to look at clinic work to help pep up your skills. You may want to do school nursing, health department, case management for a insurance company, or even homehealth just to name a few. Just dont give up and keep applying. You want to volunteer sometimes this would help you to network. Good luck and keep your head up.

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

You poor thing! It is terrible to need a job as badly as you do and not be able to find work. Have you tried LTC facilities or temp agencies. I know they are very few nurses favorite places to work, but they are usually looking for help. It is a paycheck until a better position becomes available.

[Jules A, MSN]

Maybe consider psych? Good luck.

[Angelflight]

Sorry to hear! How about correctional facilities? Also try getting involved with your local TNA chapter or specialty such as AWHONN since you did labor and delivery, or whatever interests you now for your nursing career. I attend local chapter meetings, and its a great way to network and usually meet managers, and higher level personnel that can help direct you in the right direction.

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

Do you have any co-workers that you use to work with phone numbers? It may be time to start networking. In todays job market it really helps to have someone that is willing to put in a good word for you. They may know of some place that is looking for help, but is not advertising yet. A lot of places are going by word of mouth lately. Also career.com or moster will get your resume out to more places too. Good luck with the job hunt.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Just good thoughts.

[caliotter3]

Home health is usually looking for anyone with a license. Just make sure you sign on with one that is going to give you work and not just jerk you around.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

A lot of the home health agencies around here are now requiring 1 year of med-surg experience within the last 3 years, but that's just fantastic California in the middle of a recession.

I hope you land something soon Chris!

[Nursemom64]

I've found that there is stiff competition everywhere. No matter what you'd "settle" for (part-time, temp, on-call) you're still up against stiff competition. And no matter that you've got experience in a certain area, it seems no one that's doing the hiring can see that experience transferring to the position they're hiring for. It's that same vicious cycle...can't have the job without experience, but how do you get experience if they don't give you a job? Very frustrating!

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

This is always a fear. That is why getting out of bedside is never going to be an option.

I see this all the time. Although I will go further in my studies, I will always do it, even if it is once a month (just like my professor nurse friend who is going for her DNP)...

I am so sorry you're going through this...I hope you find a job you like soon.

[funvirgoRN]

Since you haven't done bedside in awhile, try taking a refresher course. Your local board of nursing should be able to provide you with a list of schools that offer a refresher class, usu community colleges have them. Also consider travel nursing or looking for jobs in a different area. With traveling they are looking for nurses in various nursing fields even case management.